Boise Hawks, Luke Morgan Coast Past Hillsboro Hops, 7-5
The Boise Hawks built up a 7-0 lead while the Hillsboro Hops watched. Then, the Hawks watched as the Hops almost caught up to them, 7-5. The Hops were able to out hit the host team, 12-8. Hillsboro had more extra base hits, 4-3. The visitors even struck out less, 8-12. However, the road team could not outscore the home team.
Matt Tabor (L, 0-1) started the game for the Hops and gave up five runs on six hits for the loss. Both starting pitchers breezed through the game’s first inning, with both going three up and three down. Unexpectedly for Tabor, the wheels started falling off the bread truck in the next inning.
It was just a small blip as Daniel Jipping reached first base on a fielder’s choice and scooted to second on Jeff Bohling’s ground out. From there, Daniel came home on Luke Morgan’s single. The first score of the game would lead to so much more.
Kennard McDowell started the next inning off with a solo home run to right. The fourth produced two more runs for the Boise Hawks. Jeff Bohling scored on Hidekel Gonzalez’ single. It was followed by Hidekel scoring on a Matt Hearn triple.

Boise somehow sensed it would not be enough so they added two more runs in the seventh to make it 7-0. Then, the Hillsboro Hops started to wake up. In the eighth, Francis Martinez doubled home Jose Caballero. Ryan January pinch hit for Jose Herrera. Ryan walked with the bases loaded, scoring Andy Yerzy.
Down by five runs, the Hops took another stab in the last chance ninth. Jose Caballero singled home Zach Hoffpauir and Keyshawn Lynch. Andy Yerzy singled home Caballero. Only up by two runs now, Boise sent in closer Hayden Roberts, hoping it was not too late.
Francis Martinez represented the tying run at the plate with Andy at first base. As the fans held their breath, Martinez hit into a double play. Now their last chance stood with the bases empty and two outs. Alex King struck out swinging as the fans released the tension in a cheer.

The Boise Hawks went through seven different pitchers keeping the Hops at bay. Boby Johnson (W, 1-0) pitched the fifth and sixth for the win. He struck out two and held Hillsboro hitless for two innings. Hayden Roberts (S-3) pitched a flawless ninth for the save.
The loss dropped the Hillsboro Hops (6-6) into third place, one game behind the Boise Hawks (7-5). With the win, Boise kept pace one game behind the Southern Division leading Salem-Keizer Volcanoes (8-4). Both teams will return to Memorial Stadium to play game two of the three game series. Boise plans to send Miguel Ausua to the mound. The Hops starting pitcher has not been determined.
Hops notes:
On Monday, the Hillsboro Hops received three new pitchers:
Yeison Santana (RHP)
pitched for the Hops last year. He appeared in two games and appeared in 6.1 innings. His ERA suffered allowing ten runs on eleven hits. This year, he bounced between the Missoula Osprey and the Kane County Cougars before coming back here. His record so far in 2018 is 1-1 with a 3.18 ERA. In 5.2 innings, Santana has struck out nine batters and walked only one.
Jackson Goddard (RHP)
is the third round draft choice of the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2018. In college, he pitched as a Kansas Jayhawk. His best fastball reached 97 mph. Goddard comes from the AZL league where he pitched only one inning so far in his young career. He has not given up a hit or a run but he has hit one batter.
Ryan Weiss (RHP)
out of Wright State, is the fourth round draft choice of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Ryan was a freshman All-American. Like his draftmate, Goddard, Weiss started with the AZL D-Backs. There, he pitched one inning and gave up one run on two hits. Ryan did strike out two.
By
Greg Stoker
@GDStoker